smalltown joys and difficulties

This past weekend was wonderful.
I went to spend some time with my mother-in-law and extended family in E's hometown. It is a tiny little pueblo, and it is quite a ways away...talk about 3 hours from where we live, a grand total of 5 hours if you are coming from San Jose. And it is a long and winding road. I got to downtown Upala and waited a bit for the bus, but ended up getting a ride from my sister-in-law, B. By bus it is about an hour from downtown Upala to the pueblo where E is from.

I have not eaten so much since Christmas with my family! My suegra (mother-in-law) is much like my grandma in that her way of showing affection involves feeding you...I had so much rice and such hearty servings that I always felt full, but still ate a little bit of everything. It was wonderful to spend time with her, we talked about life in the pueblo, about her dficulties with her kids and grandkids, about her past, family, memories of E as a kid and how things are now...she is truly an amazing and incredibly strong woman, who I admire and love very much.
It is amazing too how small the town is...everyone knows everyone else! My suegra comes from a family of 10 kids, and 8 of them live there in the same town, walking distance from each other. Just 150 meters down the dirt road lives B with her 3 daughters, my nieces. Being from such a smalltown is nice, you feel at home, you feel safe. But it is sad too, to see how stuck in the past some people are. Many of the people my age have not completed elementary or high school. There are some folks living in poverty, or at least with a low quality of life...you know everyone's failures or difficulties, your neighbor's business, the good, bad and ugly of it. It is a beautuful and tranquil place, but it is a little too small.
On Sunday we went to "mass" though it was really just a service, since the priest can only come once a month. My suegra taught me how to make arroz con piña, or rice with pineapple. She sent me home with homemade ice creams, a kilo of cheese, tamales she saved from Christmas (which I ate for dinner last night) and a pineapple. I have really grown to love my extended family, and I am glad that I get along so well with my suegra...sometimes relationships with mother-in-laws can be difficult. But I love my extended family, and seeing where he came from makes me love and appreciate E even more.

On Saturday I will get to see E! So excited, cannot wait!

Pura Vida

future resident of Costa Rica?

On Wednesday I went to immigration for the first time. On the whole it was a rewarding experience, and some quality time with my Mama Tica, who I am continually grateful for in my life!

I woke up late! and jumped out of bed, grabbed my  bag and booked it to the bus station. I met with my Mama Tica at the Hospital Mexico, right outside of downtown San Jose. From there we walked to Immigration, took a ticket, and sat down to wait.
In summary, I am missing two important items to complete my application. One is my husband! In a recent change of rules, individuals who are applying for residency through marriage must appear with thier spouse at Immigration to authenticate the marriage and sit through an interview together. This is difficult as E is working on a cruise ship, so we will have to go back together when he is free. This is one detail I was not aware of, that I did not see written anywhere in directions on how to apply or information about the process. But it makes complete sense...I have heard of too many cases where the marriage was a sham for an expat to just get residency. Two, I need to register with the US Embassy here in Costa Rica. So, I made an appointment for next week and since I will have the paperwork the same day, I can go drop it off at Immigration. Those are the only two things I need to complete my residency application!
Since I have now applied, I am no longer required to leave the country every 90 days to renew my tourist visa, which is a relief.
Thank goodness for Mama Tica, who has helped with this process before, and who knew all the right questions to ask and helped to clarify some small points. I treated her to lunch once we finally finished up!

Still a long way to go...but someday I will be able to say I am a resident of this beautiful country.

Now off to see my extended family this weekend...adios!

Pura Vida!

ps. I finally have a working phone!!! whoo hoo!!

festivals and cruise ships

This weekend was quite a whirlwind...here is a summary.

FRIDAY: San Jose
SATURDAY: Puntarenas and Caldera
SUNDAY:  Puntarenas and rest

Friday I left Esparza early and met with my Mama Tica in Heredia, and after a quick breakfast we went by bus to San Jose to start the application for residency, which includes having totally updated and authenticated documentation. We went to the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) for marriage certificates, to the Yellow House (Casa Amarilla) to authenticate my birth certificate, and then to the Ministry of Public Security (Ministerio de Seguridad Publico) to get fingerprinted. Then we got lunch and went shopping to get my extended family birthday gifts, as my step-son, mother-in-law and niece all have February birthdays. It was a success in the end, and I finally got back to our casita around 9pm. My two sisters-in-law(B and I) and birthday niece (G) happened to be in Esparza this night, and I went to spend it with them at a nearby hotel (note: there aren't any actual hotels here in Esparza, but there are various "cabinas" that you can rent for a night or days at a time.). It was great to see them!! I hope to go to Upala and se my mother-in-law next weekend, it's been ages!!!

On Saturday I got to see E finally, after 3 weeks. My sister-in-law (B) dropped me off at the port of Caldera and E came to pick me up and take me on board...the ship is really a large sailboat, and falls into the luxury category...!! I was impressed at every turn, with the dining room and handrails and staff, and everyone was very friendly and had nothing but good things to say about E. It was very impressive!! What a treat it would be to go on a cruise with that company Windstar Cruises . I am glad E likes what he is doing, and that everything is going so well. We will see each other again on March 3rd.
Saturday afternoon I went to the Festivals in Puntarenas, and I met up with Adrian, Muni's hubby in the bus and we hung out, and it was really cool! We saw Ziggy Marley in concert. The next day he went back to Monteverde and I went back to Puntarenas to meet up with some other friends, who I was never able to get in touch with. Thus I went home and realxed the rest of the day.

Today I have been running errands for E and in a moment will head home for lunch...
This week I hope to go to immigracion and get all my paperwork in. That would be ideal.

Pura Vida.

Day of Love and Friendship: Valentine's Day

In Costa Rica Valentine's Day is much more relaxed than in the USA.

We gringos have gone waaaaay overboard in making the holiday more than it is: a saint's day that has been commercialized to the point of making your stomach turn. Think about it...In the weeks leading up to the 14th of February you are bombarded by ads on tv. Your ears are assaulted by the radio with love songs (my Dad listens to the soft rock station), and every store window is decked out with pink, red, white, heart shapes and cut out cupids of the Raphaelite sort. Hallmarks are super busy, Old Navy comes out with Valentine's Day themed shirts, and even the CVS is full of candy and cards and tacky stuffed bears holding boxes of chocolates. If there is any day that you should say "I love you," it is today. And don't forget the flowers, of course!

One of the things I like best about today is that E and I are celebrating our 6 month anniversary, and it is also my mother-in-law's birthday. So this is not just any day...! Several important events fall on this date.
Another thing is that the Ticos do not celebrate only "love" but also "friendship." So while you can tell your significant other "I love you," you can also go to a friend or family member and give them a big hug and make them feel appreciated and loved! It is much more inclusive, not just about romantic but also platonic relationships, and people act accordingly giving hugs all around instead of focusing on just one person. Of course, couples do special things together but there is not as much emphasis on gifts or as much pressure to do something big and meaningful. Muni's nanny is making her hubby a special dinner! Muni and Adri went out last night. Tonight we have a reservation for 3 at the sushi restaurant in town, and I am looking forward to it!
I decided not to go home today after all, as I would be alone and just the thought is depressing...missing E a lot today, needless to say, for the holiday and our anniversary. It will be so great to see him again on Saturday!

So today I wish you all Happy Valentine's Day, and Feliz Dia de Amor y Amistad!

Pura Vida!

oh mountain road...

Writing from way up here in the Cordillera de Tilaran, and it is a beautiful, blustery day! The sun is out and you can see the trees reaching their roots deeper into the ground as they resist the winds that billow and buffet them... Thankfully it isn't cold, as I only brought one sweatshirt and a scarf. The sun is so bright you need sunglasses every time you step outdoors, and if you are out too long you WILL get burned! Love that I have a little stick of sunscreen in my emergency bag.
Tonight I will be babysitting for Muni and Adri, as they go out for some alone time and to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Being around a baby makes me fall in love...they are such amazing little people, and Muni and Adri have been blessed with a real cutie who is not only a heartbreaker but a very happy little guy! He fusses when he is hungry or needs changed or is frightened, but is not a melancholy or grumpy baby. And being around the baby fulfills my maternal instincts without having to be committed to having a kid of my own...E and I are of the same mind, that we would like to be a little more settled (ok, a LOT more settled) and stable before we start a family. But God's plans are not my plans, so we will see. For now I am super content to spoil Muni and Adri's baby.

Getting up here was a little bit of an adventure! On Friday afternoon I got to the highway bus stop around 4pm. There was some traffic, and it was stop and go, and finally around 4:45pm I saw the bus coming, with bug blue "MONTEVERDE" written on the front...and to my dismay it turned and went into Esparza, to try and avoid traffic I imagine. But it did not pass the stop I was waiting at...and due to the traffic, there was no way for mr to get ahead of it or catch up in time... I waited for 10 minutes, to see if maybe it was just doing a turn around, but no, it didn't come back out onto the highway. So I walked home with my two backpacks and left Saturday morning instead, waiting at another bus stop where the bus is GUARANTEED to pass, and caught it around 8:30am. I forgot how dusty everything is this time of year! There is not much rain at all in the summer. When I get home I am washing my hair. Muni and I baked most of the afternoon, and then Sunday hosted other Monteverde Moms for bonding and brunch, and then ran some errands, and here I am waiting to have lunch in a little bit...
Oh! There was an earthquake this morning, I felt it, being the light sleeper I am. Wow, crazy.

I really miss E. He will be gone until the end of March! If only there was some way I could work on the boat with him. Having time off is nice, but it gets pretty boring always being by yourself (at least we have cable now). All my friends are elsewhere, working or doing something else. But enjoy it while it lasts, I guess. Next weekend I will hopefully get to see E, and it looks like some friends might be coming down for the fiestas in Puntarenas, so I will have some company! I want to go, but definitely not by myself. Looking forward to the little things...they make all the difference!

Pura Vida.

Monteverde here I come!

This weekend I will be visiting Monteverde and some friends there!
Plan to run a few errands around town and then pack and hop on a bus up the mountain...!
After being at home all week it's time to get out for a bit.

E has been offered work through March, which is great! But means that I won't get to see hime soon. Hopefully next Saturday! If all goes well. Meanwhile keeping an eye on things in the casita, investigating visas and residency, and thinking of how sweet it will be to give him a hug when he gets home.

Looking forward to the hills, wind and beautiful sights of my old mountain home for a little while...!

Pura Vida.

Welcome to the US Embassy, San Jose

Yesterday was quite an adventure.
To summarize: I walked, bussed, and wanted to cry in frustration, and got home pretty late.

I left the house around 7:20am, and arrived JUST IN TIME to jump on the bus to San Jose, and a direct one too, which makes fewer stops. I was also lucky enough to get the very last seat! It is never fun to stand on a long bus ride. After arriving to the station I asked a taxi driver how far the embassy was, and how I would go about getting there by bus...in the end I took a taxi, which was a good decision. Otherwise it would have taken a lot longer to get there, and the likelihood of me getting lost was very probable...
Standing at the door to get in I felt so nervous.
(Note about me being nervous and upset...my emotion always seems to collect in my tear ducts, which means I get flushed and feel like crying. This results in me feeling frustrated which only makes me want to cry more...! And on the whole I feel very embarassed and back down, which is no good. Got to find a better way to deal with my nerves.)
I showed my passport and was ushered in. You cannot take in cell phones, by the way. Not an issue since I do not have one at the moment! US citizens have every priority, and can jump lines and are attended to better. Remember that I was going to ask about getting E a visa? Well this is where I got pretty frustrated...There was no one available to talk to directly about the process, and in order to talk with someone directly I have to make an $18 appointment. Otherwise I can call during certian hours, three days a week, or check online for requirements. They did not have a copy of the application eiether...basically I was in and out in about half an hour!! With none of my questions answered. And since I do not have a phone, calling to ask questions is tough. I think I will come tomorrow morning and use some of my Skype minutes to try and call. Otherwise I need a bunch of change and a working pay phone, which I think would be pretty expensive. Just hope thinsg arrive here soon...one thing I do miss about the USA is the security of sending mail. Here you always take a risk sending something!
Anyway I left the Embassy and walked all the way down to the bus stop...which was about 30-40 minutes. I passed the National Stadium, and ICE headquarters (the Instituto Costaricense de Electricidad, the biggest and until recently only provider of cell phone, internet and electricity in the country), asked directions twice and crossed the highway to arrive to a bus stop where I got a bus to Heredia, and then once in Heredia got on another bus that went to San Joaquin, and spent some time with my Mama Tica. We just chatted and had lunch and then ran some errands, and I felt a lot better after. Around 7:30pm they dropped me off at my bus stop, and I had to wait about half an hour for the bus I needed....!!! I slept fitfully on the bus with my arms around my backpack, and woke in time to get off at my stop and walked home, unlocking my door around 10pm. My bed looked so inviting, I watched the last bit of CSI:NY and fell right asleep.
A long and not so productive day.
I am glad that I visited the Embassy though, and that I learned something about the process of arriving, where to go to ask questions, and was exposed to the experience.
Honestly sometimes I am hesitant to do things by myself here, afraid that I will trip over my Spanish or get lost or end up looking silly. That is a fear I have to learn to let go of! In life we do not always have someone to hold our hand...I think in some ways this time by myself makes me realize how I sometimes depend on others to get things done, and that is something I cannot afford to do. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE YOU HAVE TO DO IT YOURSELF! So when I feel that hesitancy about doing something, I stop and ask myself..."How much do you want it?" And then I take a deep breath and plunge in.

Today I woke up on my own time.
Tomorrow I hope to accomplish something concerning the visa...sigo adelante, luchando. (Moving forward, fighting!)

Pura Vida.

casita

The next couple days will be kind of tough. It is so strange being in our little casita without E! Just so empty. The last 48 hours since coming home have been so dull. Of course, you only realize how much you miss something when it isn't there...

Today I went to get glasses in Puntarenas, and spent about $42 total including my vision test. Mom was trying to convince me to go get them while I was in the USA, but I am glad I waited. So much cheaper!

Meanwhile, I finally ordered a new phone...but I am without until then. It stinks not being able to contact anyone! If I want to make a call, I have to go to the public phone. The closest one is about a 5 minute walk away, uphill. Ugh. E was talking about getting a cheap one in the next couple days and trying to drop it off Saturday. But for now I am just out of touch! Feel free to email or Facebook me though. I can still check those.

Tomorrow I plan to go to the US Embassy in San Jose and get some visa stuff for E straightened out. You wouldn't believe how many different things we have both heard about how long it takes, what you need, how to go about doing it. So I figure I should just go and ask, and hopefully get some of the process started! Wish me luck...

After this blog I will stop by the supermarket and pick up a few things, and then head home for a late lunch. I wish I had some place to go lay out in the sun, but the tiny balcony attached to our casita is not ideal, and going to the beach every day by yourself isn't much fun. I am super happy walking around in flip flops and tank tops, that is a positive!! Love where I live, we have great weather right now!
Always look for the positive.

Pura Vida.

last night on the beach.

This week in Playa Flamingo has been pretty enjoyable.
The group of kids has been wonderful, some of the teachers proved to be more difficult than the students! We have walked on the beach every morning to school, and it has been beautiful. The kids are going home after a very well rounded experience, and I know they have enjoyed it. I certainly have!! The tour on the catamaran yesterday was probably the highlight of my week, with the music, sunset, and a few miguelitos (cacique, cocont milk and ice blended. YUM!). Beautiful.

Today I bought a new phone. Hopefully it will arrive here sometime in the next month, and hopefully it works well. Now E just needs a new one! He is back to using the one I tried to replace with the Blackberry.

Also, E has been granted an opportunity to work on a cruise ship for 15 days as a member of the crew. He leaves tomorrow morning! It could lead to more work opportunities for him through the next three months, and we are both hoping for the best. I will still miss him a lot! We hope to touch base on the weekends, when he is in Caldera (not too far from where we live!). He will be travelling between Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama.

Tomorrow I am looking forward to going home and sleeping in for a few days...getting up at 6am has exhausted me this week.
The beach is lovely, and it has been great to enjoy it for a little while.
Now time to rest up, before March Madness begins.

Pura Vida.